Church
Foreign Culture is a blog from Chris Alford - of good missionary stock - I like the fact that he is reading Roland Allen. Chris says something profound that I want to quote:
"Many of us postmoderns are simply replacing old boxes for new ones.
Some are choosing the house church box, the liturgical box, the art box, the cyber box, and whatever other box we can think of. I'm tired of boxes. Do we have to single out a postmodern box? I don't think so. If you ask me...which you really are not asking me, but...there is ample room for various methods, and models in the pomo world. That is the beauty of where we are. It doesn't matter if you meet in a house, building, or cathedral. What matters is that we recognize the we are the breathing church, not the place where we meet.
The early church met in houses, primarialy because they were not welcome anywhere else. The home is still a key part to the spread of the kingdom of Christ, but without a central focus it can quickly become self-centered. I'm of the humble belief that if we could mix various elements from house church, large groups, etc...we would have a more balanced method." Chris Alford
Heres the deal. Modern people focus on the One Thing, postmodern people focus on the Other Thing (the abused thing, neglected thing, etc) Those in the emerging culture are focusing on the Whole Thing - that is, the composite of all the layers of the Things as they appear at one time.
This affects the way we see church., even house church.
Moderns see House Church as the new One Thing, or Best Thing.
Postmoderns see House Church as The Other Thing, preciously squashed by Institutional Church, but now allowed to emerge. They focus on the differences.
Emerging thinking (whatever it is called) which emerges from a deep ecclesiology, sees House Church as one of the many LAYERS of church expression, but it also sees the other layers of large celebration, Fesitval, coffee shop discussions, club nights, pilgrimage, etc. It sees the blend. And it does not ask "What is the best church expression" but rather "which layer of church expression to we bring to the front or send to the back (graphics talk)".
Anyway, some thoughts to ponder on this Lords DAY. Enjoy church today, however you experience it.
"Many of us postmoderns are simply replacing old boxes for new ones.
Some are choosing the house church box, the liturgical box, the art box, the cyber box, and whatever other box we can think of. I'm tired of boxes. Do we have to single out a postmodern box? I don't think so. If you ask me...which you really are not asking me, but...there is ample room for various methods, and models in the pomo world. That is the beauty of where we are. It doesn't matter if you meet in a house, building, or cathedral. What matters is that we recognize the we are the breathing church, not the place where we meet.
The early church met in houses, primarialy because they were not welcome anywhere else. The home is still a key part to the spread of the kingdom of Christ, but without a central focus it can quickly become self-centered. I'm of the humble belief that if we could mix various elements from house church, large groups, etc...we would have a more balanced method." Chris Alford
Heres the deal. Modern people focus on the One Thing, postmodern people focus on the Other Thing (the abused thing, neglected thing, etc) Those in the emerging culture are focusing on the Whole Thing - that is, the composite of all the layers of the Things as they appear at one time.
This affects the way we see church., even house church.
Moderns see House Church as the new One Thing, or Best Thing.
Postmoderns see House Church as The Other Thing, preciously squashed by Institutional Church, but now allowed to emerge. They focus on the differences.
Emerging thinking (whatever it is called) which emerges from a deep ecclesiology, sees House Church as one of the many LAYERS of church expression, but it also sees the other layers of large celebration, Fesitval, coffee shop discussions, club nights, pilgrimage, etc. It sees the blend. And it does not ask "What is the best church expression" but rather "which layer of church expression to we bring to the front or send to the back (graphics talk)".
Anyway, some thoughts to ponder on this Lords DAY. Enjoy church today, however you experience it.
